Joanna Russell &nbsp

PGDip, MBACP (Accred)

When life feels painful it can seem like we are hamsters in a wheel, no matter how we run the view stays the same. Worried about burdening friends and family we keep our head down and 'get on with it' shutting away all those difficult feelings.

The Counselling relationship, with someone outside of your everyday life, provides an opportunity to be listened to and to feel heard. To be received without judgement while exploring your feelings, thoughts and actions within the context of your lived experience.

Through this relational and collaborative process there is potential for greater self-awareness and understanding which can allow us to begin to experience our world differently.

I very much feel that my client is the expert in themselves and that the counselling process can develop that inner knowing, connecting to feelings and thoughts that lie beneath everyday expression deepening - even transforming their sense of self.

I believe that in this more developed attunement there can be increased awareness of, and potential to transform, blocks to what Carl Rogers described as full functioning'.

I adhere to an integrative humanistic model of counselling aiming to connect and attune to each client - to build a warm, trusting and collaborative relationship.

My intention is to see each client as unique, original and autonomous; to work in an empathetic and exploratory way in helping you come into deeper understanding of your inner environment and how that impacts your outer experiencing.

By listening holistically while offering measured challenge and encouragement I can facilitate you in moving towards your therapeutic goals.

I qualified with a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from York St. John University and am an Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I have a Diploma in Pet Bereavement Counselling from the Centre of Excellence and hold an MA in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, California, USA.

I have an advanced CRB certificate and carry professional indemnity insurance.

I have experience working both short and long term with clients aged 16+ across a broad range of challenges including:

Low mood/depression

Anxiety

Poor self-esteem

Relationship/family issues

Difficult emotions

Psychological trauma

Work-related stress

Academic pressures

Pet Bereavement

Complex bereavement

I draw on and abide by the personal qualities, values, professional standards and ethics of the 2016 BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

I regularly access Continuing Professional Development and attend monthly clinical supervision in support of maintaining safe, ethical and effective working through reflective and relational processing.

The first session is free of charge, without obligation, giving us an opportunity to meet and discuss how counselling may help.